Typical Israeli Dishes

Discover the Rich Culinary Diversity of Israel

Israel is a country with a rich cultural and religious diversity, thanks to its population composed of people from more than 120 countries. If you visit Israel, you can’t miss trying some of its typical dishes. Here are some of them:

Mujaddara: This dish is an ideal accompaniment for many foods, as it can be consumed cold or hot. It is made from lentils, bulgur wheat or rice, and is decorated with fried onions and olive oil. There is also a variant that replaces brown lentils with yellow or green ones.

Labneh: It is a very creamy variety of cheese, similar to yogurt, made from sheep or cow’s milk. It is not only eaten at lunch, but is also a prominent element at breakfast.

Jraime: One of the most popular fish dishes, especially at the Sabbath dinner (seventh day of the week). It is prepared by cooking several pieces of fish in a sauce made of tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and spices.

Sabich or Sabih: It is a classic sandwich served in a pita bread. Among its ingredients are fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, and parsley, which is used in many dishes beyond its decorative function. Let’s not forget its sauces: hummus, amba, or tahini.

Amba: This mango-based pickle, made with vinegar, salt, mustard, turmeric, and hot chili, is very popular for accompanying falafel, shawarma, or for dressing exquisite sandwiches or sabich.

Halva: There are numerous varieties of halva, but its main ingredient is semolina, sweetened with honey or sugar and with a gelatinous and semi-transparent consistency. Sesame halva, on the other hand, is dry and slightly crunchy, very similar to Spanish soft almond nougat.

12 Must-Try Israeli Dishes That Will Take Your Taste Buds on a Journey

Tahini: It is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. To make tahini sauce, consumed both at breakfast and meals, this paste, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice are needed.

Pita bread: A type of flatbread that is slightly fermented, with little crumb inside, light and versatile. It is baked at high temperature so that the dough inflates and the outsides come apart. Its ingredients are wheat flour, olive oil, yeast, salt, and water.

Falafel: Croquettes made with crushed chickpeas and then fried. They are delicious if accompanied by yogurt or tahini. A perfect and nutritious entrée.

Hummus: A dip made from pureed chickpeas and tahini sesame paste, lemon juice, and garlic. It is typically dressed with a drizzle of olive oil and is then used as a dip for vegetables or a flavorful filling for flatbreads such as pita.

Shakshuka: A dish consisting of eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce made with different spices such as ground chili pepper, cumin, or paprika. In Tunisia, it is known as Chakchouk.

Shawarma: A Middle Eastern meat treat whose origins can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire era. Marinated and spit-roasted, shawarma is made with either lamb, turkey, chicken, beef, or a mix of different meats which are slow-cooked for hours and basted in their own juices and fat, gaining an incomparable succulence. It is served in pita bread or bread wafers with vegetables, seasonings, and various sauces.

Source: https://www.touristisrael.com